Spent Monday evening at the BHM Lounge, in company of some of the brightest minds around, as we gathered to celebrate the founder of X3M Group Steve Babaeko.

SB had announced last week that September 1 made it 20 years since he ventured into advertising.

As we shared hot amala and orisirisi; with canapés and cognac and cocktails, everyone spoke about the power of Steve’s imagination; about the determination and drive that got him here. Everyone agreed this gentleman that arrived in Lagos broke and hopeless changed his life and his story by doing the work- from artiste management to equipment leasing, to copywriting and music.

Music gave him the fame; advertising gave him a career and much more.

Steve Babaeko

But it’s the inspiration – the one that pushes him; the one he gives to others even when he doesn’t try, that gave him a name.

That name may be what his parents gave him. But it’s no longer a basic nomenclature for a random guy from Kabba in Kogi state. That name now belongs to a trusted brand that’s fulfilling a promise: that Nigerian advertising can be great again; that copy writers and creative directors can build a business too; that you can make it if you dare. That an agency CEO can sag his pants and wear Giuseppe Zanotti . The promise (and message) that everything you want is chilling on the other side of fear.

What can we learn from the Black civil rights movement? What can we learn from the plenty stories in the Bible?

How can we ensure companies like Facebook, Google, Twittter and co. do not continue to determine the fate of the brands we care about? How do we ensure that we are the ones throwing the party, instead of gate crashing a gig we are not even invited to?

CEO BHM Group, Ayeni Adekunle

CEO X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko

The future of both professions is intertwined, as you will discover in detailed excerpts from my session available next week.

We must integrate and innovate, if we are to avoid a future where the Clients no longer pick our call…